Railroad-crossing



' C. H. WHITE.-

RAILROAD CROSSING. "APPHCATION' FILED 0CT.19, 1920.

Patented Apr. 19 21 IIIIIIIHHIHHHI'H CHARLES a. warm, or HANFORD, CALIFORNIA. v.

' nAr nonn-caossms.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 12, 1%21.

Application filed G cto'oer 19, 192 Serial No. 417,969.

To aZZ to 7mm it may concern Beit known that T, CHARLns H. VVHITE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at ing is a specification.

Hanford, in the county of Kings and State of California, have invented a new and useful Railroadflrossing, of which the followe The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be used at the point where the rails of railroad tracks cross, to the end that the lines may be practically continuous at the point of crossing.

The invention aims to provide novel means for operating the shiftable rail section, sothat the same will be alined' with rails which are disposed at an angle to each other. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the friction may be reduced during the operation of the structure. A further obj eot of the invention is to provide novel means whereby a secure seat for the shiftable rail sectionis provided, when the said rail section is in operative position. i v

t is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description procoeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can bemade without departing from the spirit of-the invention. c

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan; Fig. 3 is a fragmental transverse section; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevation casing 1 and is vertically movable therein. The upper end of the shaft 6 carries a rail section 7 of sufficient lengthto extend between the rails 22 and 33. The rail sec- ,rn orrifcs tion 7 is supplied at its ends withextensions 8, each extension being beveled in opposite vdirections as indicated at 9 in F ig'. 4. The

shaft 6 is supplied with a squared portion 10 terminating in a 'reducecl'tip 11. A pinion 12 is mounted on. the squared portion 10 of the shaft 6. A. rack bar 14 is mounted for right line reciprocation in the casing 1 and meshes into .the pinion 12. A washer,v

15 is carried by the tip 11 and is held in place by a cotter pin 16'0r the like. The

numeral 1'? denotes a spring of any desired sort, preferably in the form of an arm orslit, the inner end of the spring arm being I supplied with a fork 18, straddling the tip" 11 of the shaft 6, between-the washer 15 and the pinion 12. The outer endof the spring arm '17 is secured to the casing 1, as indicated at 19. r

In practical operation, when the rack bar 14 is moved endwise, rotation will be imparted to the pinion 12, the pinion rotating the shaft 6, and movement being imparted to the rail section 7 the'rail section 7 being placed in alinemeiit with the rails -22 or The rail section 7 abuts against the ends of the flanges 5 and, thus, the rail section is alined with the rails 22 or 33, as

aforesaid. 1 When the rail section 7 is swung out of alineinent withthe rails 2-2 or 3-3,

the extensions 8 ride out from beneaththe pro ections 44. Then, the. rail section 7 is set tree for vertical movement. The spr1ng17 exerts an upward pressure on the shaft 6 and raises the shaft, along with the rail sec tion 7, until the rail section no longer is in slidable engagement with. the upper surface of the casing 1. Friction, consequently, is reduced, and the rail section maybe swung from one position to another, with less ex:

.penditure of effort than would be the case otherwise. When the rail section -7 7 approaches alinement. with the rails 33 or 22, the beveled portions 9 of the extensions 8 cooperate with the projections 4, the rail section 7 being crowded downwardly against I the action of the spring 17, to. a firm seat on the top ofthe casing 1. Thus, although the rails section 7 may be operated freely, the rail section has a firm bearing when it is in operative position. v

s shown in Fig. 5, the bar 14 maybe supplied with a rack 7 5 meshing into a pinion 76 on a shaft 77 journaled in a support .78, the shaft having an operating handle 79.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is a I 1. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with pairs of alined rails; a rail section journaled on the casingand movableinto and out of alinement with the rails ofthe respective pairs, the rail section being vertically movable on the casing; means for raising the rail section off the casing; means forswinging the rail section into alinelnent with the rails of the respective pairs; and interengaging elements on the ends of the rail'section and on the rails for forcing the rail section downwardly upon the. casing when the rail section is swung into alinenient with the rails of either pair.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with pairs of alined rails having projections at their inner ends, the cas- ,.1ng being supplied with. upstanding flanges;

the engagement" of the extensions; beneath the projections when the shaft is rotated to cause the rail section to abut against the flanges and to aline therail section with the rails of the respective pairs; a pinion on the;

shaft and located within the casing; a rack bar slidable in the casing and meshing with the pinion; and a spring carried by the easing andexerting an upward pressure on the shaft. V V

3. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with pairs of alined rails having projections at their inner ends,'the casing being supplied with upstanding flanges; a shaft journaled in the casing and movable vertically therein; a rail section carried by the shaft and having terminal extensions, the extensions and the projections being relatively beveled transversely to facilitate the engagement ofthe extensions beneath the projections when the shaft is rotated to cause the rail sectiontto abut against the flanges and to aline the rail section with the rails ofthe respective pairs; means for rotating the shaft; and means for raising the shaft. 1

1 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed by signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. WVHITE.

l Vitnesses CHARLns E. Monk, WALLACE CoLpINs. 

